A Melbourne research fellow argues that reducing the density of liquor outlets also reduces domestic violence. The downside in this sort of thinking is that it deflects attention from root causes, writes Alan Davies.

In Alice Springs, locals drink double the national average of alcohol per year. Therefore it’s no surprise that 70-90% of the assaults in the town are alcohol-related. How do we stop the grog? asks Russell Goldflam.

The US is still in very tough times economically and when the going gets tough, the tough get boozed. Alcohol consumption in the States is up, but people are drinking cheaper brands and boozing at home.

Getting wasted on Australia Day isn’t some inherent national right that the liquor industry must defend, says Jeremy Bass. The businesses serving the booze — from pubs to supermarket grog shops — need to widen their tunnel vision.

Debate is heating up in the UK after the government’s former chief drugs adviser, Dr David Nutt, was sacked over his views that cannabis is less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol. Now the scientific community is coming to his defence.